India has rubbished media reports in Canada that PM Narendra Modi had prior knowledge of the alleged plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar saying it was a smear campaign. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the reports saying they are absurd and deserve contempt.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We do not comment on media reports.” But statements this silly made to a newspaper and attributed to a Canadian government official should be exposed for the nonsense they are. Such shameless smear campaigns as this only serve to worsen the relations that are already at an all time low.
The allegations follow a report by The Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, that alleges that agencies in Canada consider PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval as fully informed of Nijjar’s death. The report quoted a senior national-security official to implicate India’s leadership in the killing.
This picture has worsened since Nijjar, an India citizen, was shot dead in Canada last year. Earlier, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau leveled the arrest against Indian agents, a statement refuted by India in a strong manner. India also recalled its high commissioner and dismissed the allegations made by Ottawa as false.
Although The Globe and Mail said it could not corroborate PM Modi’s involvement, it opined that it was impossible for senior officials to deliberate on the actions without the approval of the Prime Minister.
This event also tension up the India-Canada relationship, which is already under pressure over the Khalistani separatism issue and Canada’s diplomatic spat.
